Chiropractic care for beginners
My Chiropractic clinic in San Diego primarily serves those who have had experience with chiropractic treatment over the course of their lives. Many of them come for treatment not because they have a particular ache or pain but because they simply like the way they feel after a treatment. I don’t want to imply that chiropractic care is addicting like smoking is, but after you have experienced the improved range of motion, increased athletic performance and decreased muscle tension that results from chiropractic care, many simply want that feeling to be the norm. Other patients come specifically for treatment of neck pain, back pain, headaches, etc.
One thing that most of these patients have in common is that they usually know someone who could benefit from chiropractic care but that person is hesitant. They are hesitant to come for treatment either because they don’t “believe” in chiropractors or because they are afraid.
Those who don’t believe in chiropractic care are easy to convince of the benefits of chiropractic treatment. Many of these people hold on to the untruths spread by the American Medical Association (AMA) regarding chiropractors. Between the 1960s and the mid 1980s, the AMA spent nearly $100,000,000 on an anti-chiropractic campaign. While most of the information that the AMA dispersed regarding my profession was false and based on the poor behavior of just a few doctors, some people continue to hold on to those false ideas.
That being said, chiropractic treatment has a direct and immediate beneficial effect on the joints of the spine. This benefit is a combination of increased joint motion, relaxed muscles and decreased tension and is hard to overlook even by the most pessimistic skeptic.
Those who are fearful of chiropractic care are more difficult to convince of the benefits of treatment. They are afraid that they might get paralyzed or have some other life changing occurrence as a result of care. In reality, chiropractic care is very safe. The only “side effect” that we have personally seen regarding chiropractic care is that the patients feel better.
The safety of your doctor’s office can be determined by the cost of their malpractice insurance. Chiropractors insurance rates for the same level of coverage is less than 1/10 of most MDs. What that means to patients is that despite the fact that some people don’t like the thought of having their joints “cracked”, a chiropractor’s office is a very safe place to receive treatment.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Dec 27, 2009
Dec 23, 2009
Is is ok to crack my own back, neck?
Is it OK to Crack it Myself?
In my San Diego chiropractic clinic, I treat many patients for neck pain, back pain and other joint pains. A few of these patients ask me if it is OK if they crack their necks and backs by themselves. A few of them will tell me that they have their kids or the wife walk on their back. And a few of them are in my office because either they cracked their back or neck by themselves or they had someone else do it for them which resulted in an injury.
The funny thing about some of these people who were injured by a non-chiropractic adjustment is that they are nervous about me adjusting them for their neck pain or back pain.
The truth about cracking your own neck or back is that it is not very safe. Usually people develop pain or stiffness in the spine because of an injury or some ongoing condition. Chiropractors are trained to specifically diagnose and provide treatment for these conditions or injuries.
Through the course of my fifteen year career, I have seen patients who have broken vertebra by adjusting their own backs, I have seen broken ribs as a result of having someone walk on their backs, I have seen two patients who suffered mild strokes from cracking their own necks and I had one patient whose brother suffered paralysis from the chest down because his partner walked on his back resulting in a crushed vertebra and a seriously damaged spinal cord.
Some people crack their own joints daily for years without suffering obvious serious consequences. Even these people are doing themselves a disservice. In no normal situation should you feel as though you have to crack a specific joint every day. Those who do crack the same joints everyday for years will develop arthritis in those joints resulting in pain, dysfunction and possibly disability.
In most cases cracking or as we chiropractors call it “adjusting” a joint is fairly easy once the skills are acquired. However, the one of the most important things regarding the delivery of any type of health care is when not to deliver it. In every case that I have seen when a patient was injured by a non-chiropractic adjustment, the injured patient “thought” that they knew what was wrong.
Don’t make the same mistakes. If you need to get adjusted, go to the chiropractor!
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
In my San Diego chiropractic clinic, I treat many patients for neck pain, back pain and other joint pains. A few of these patients ask me if it is OK if they crack their necks and backs by themselves. A few of them will tell me that they have their kids or the wife walk on their back. And a few of them are in my office because either they cracked their back or neck by themselves or they had someone else do it for them which resulted in an injury.
The funny thing about some of these people who were injured by a non-chiropractic adjustment is that they are nervous about me adjusting them for their neck pain or back pain.
The truth about cracking your own neck or back is that it is not very safe. Usually people develop pain or stiffness in the spine because of an injury or some ongoing condition. Chiropractors are trained to specifically diagnose and provide treatment for these conditions or injuries.
Through the course of my fifteen year career, I have seen patients who have broken vertebra by adjusting their own backs, I have seen broken ribs as a result of having someone walk on their backs, I have seen two patients who suffered mild strokes from cracking their own necks and I had one patient whose brother suffered paralysis from the chest down because his partner walked on his back resulting in a crushed vertebra and a seriously damaged spinal cord.
Some people crack their own joints daily for years without suffering obvious serious consequences. Even these people are doing themselves a disservice. In no normal situation should you feel as though you have to crack a specific joint every day. Those who do crack the same joints everyday for years will develop arthritis in those joints resulting in pain, dysfunction and possibly disability.
In most cases cracking or as we chiropractors call it “adjusting” a joint is fairly easy once the skills are acquired. However, the one of the most important things regarding the delivery of any type of health care is when not to deliver it. In every case that I have seen when a patient was injured by a non-chiropractic adjustment, the injured patient “thought” that they knew what was wrong.
Don’t make the same mistakes. If you need to get adjusted, go to the chiropractor!
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Dec 18, 2009
Does chiropractic really work?
Does Chiropractic Work?
As a chiropractor, I am always asked “Does chiropractic really work?” This is not only an unfair question; it is also a loaded question. Chiropractic care is a very effective form of treatment for some traditional symptoms like neck pain and back pain and not for others.
Being a Chiropractor in San Diego, I see sports related injuries all year round. Running injuries, falls from bicycles or rollerblades, golf injuries, basketball injuries – you name it and most likely we have seen it. More often than not these injuries result in typical sprain / strains that result in neck pain, back pain, sciatica etc.
The types of injuries that I just listed are a few of many joint injuries / symptoms that chiropractic care is very effective in treating. You might say that chiropractic care was made for such injuries. The reason that I convey this is because of the nature of these types of injuries.
The typical sprain / strain injury usually results when a fall or an accident forces a joint through an excessive or abnormal range of motion. This type of injury stretches the ligaments and muscles that move and support the spine. The result of this type of injury is irritation and inflammation of the joint and scar tissue formation.
Without chiropractic treatment, the scar tissue from sprain / strain injuries restricts and or alters normal joint motion which can cause pain and stiffness. Chiropractic manipulations help to restore full, normal joint motion by breaking down scar tissue that would otherwise cause stiffness and pain.
Chiropractic care is an excellent form of therapy for reducing the effects of postural stress from sitting at a computer, poor lifting habits, poor posture and a variety of other stresses that we expose ourselves to on a daily basis.
So, does chiropractic work?
The only way to know is go visit one and see. Chiropractors want their treatment to work and are reluctant to take on cases that may not properly respond to their therapy. No doctor that I know wants to have unsuccessful treatment sessions during the course of their work day.
A good chiropractor can look at your history, perform an examination and make a sound determination on how well you will respond to care. That being said, we are known as the “back doctors” so if you have neck pain, back pain or any spinal related pain, a visit to the chiropractor may be just what you need.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
As a chiropractor, I am always asked “Does chiropractic really work?” This is not only an unfair question; it is also a loaded question. Chiropractic care is a very effective form of treatment for some traditional symptoms like neck pain and back pain and not for others.
Being a Chiropractor in San Diego, I see sports related injuries all year round. Running injuries, falls from bicycles or rollerblades, golf injuries, basketball injuries – you name it and most likely we have seen it. More often than not these injuries result in typical sprain / strains that result in neck pain, back pain, sciatica etc.
The types of injuries that I just listed are a few of many joint injuries / symptoms that chiropractic care is very effective in treating. You might say that chiropractic care was made for such injuries. The reason that I convey this is because of the nature of these types of injuries.
The typical sprain / strain injury usually results when a fall or an accident forces a joint through an excessive or abnormal range of motion. This type of injury stretches the ligaments and muscles that move and support the spine. The result of this type of injury is irritation and inflammation of the joint and scar tissue formation.
Without chiropractic treatment, the scar tissue from sprain / strain injuries restricts and or alters normal joint motion which can cause pain and stiffness. Chiropractic manipulations help to restore full, normal joint motion by breaking down scar tissue that would otherwise cause stiffness and pain.
Chiropractic care is an excellent form of therapy for reducing the effects of postural stress from sitting at a computer, poor lifting habits, poor posture and a variety of other stresses that we expose ourselves to on a daily basis.
So, does chiropractic work?
The only way to know is go visit one and see. Chiropractors want their treatment to work and are reluctant to take on cases that may not properly respond to their therapy. No doctor that I know wants to have unsuccessful treatment sessions during the course of their work day.
A good chiropractor can look at your history, perform an examination and make a sound determination on how well you will respond to care. That being said, we are known as the “back doctors” so if you have neck pain, back pain or any spinal related pain, a visit to the chiropractor may be just what you need.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Dec 15, 2009
Fast, Natural, Drug Free Low Back Pain Relief
Fast, Natural, Drug Free Low Back Pain Relief
What if I told you that over the last 15 years I have helped countless low back pain sufferers overcome their pain with a fast, natural, drug free therapy? In addition, that therapy is reasonably priced and covered by most insurance companies.
Of course I am writing about safe and effective chiropractic care.
At this point, some of you will be thinking “Chiropractic doesn’t work!” or “I wouldn’t go to one of those guys!”
I have heard all of these arguments in the past. I was even one of those people. I was raised in a semi anti chiropractic household.
My opinions changed after a car accident I was involved in back in 1984. After a mild fender bender, I slowly developed neck pain and stiffness. Before long that pain was “creeping” into my left shoulder and arm. I began to go to my primary physician at Kaiser for treatment. I followed his advice but nothing worked.
Early on in my treatment, I told my Kaiser doctor that my chiropractor uncle told me that I should see a local chiropractor. My Kaiser doctor dismissed that thought with some derogatory remark and told me to stick with his care – which I did.
Kaisers’ treatment was not helpful!
Eventually I saw a chiropractor who had my condition completely turned around in about 3 weeks. Mind you that the chiropractic care followed 5 months of pills and occasional physical therapy from Kaiser – that didn’t work.
My chiropractic treatment was so successful and actually enjoyable that I switched my college studies to pre-med and later attended Chiropractic College.
What does this have to do with low back pain you ask?
Everything.
Chiropractors are known for treating low back pain, it is what my profession is associated with. The reason that we are associated with low back pain treatment is because of my professions’ tremendous success rate with delivering fast, safe, natural, drug free back pain relief.
I recently read a study that indicated that the use of chiropractic care for low back pain relief is nearly 4000 times safer than using medications or other traditional western medicine inspired treatments.
Most cases of low back pain occur as a direct result of injury or dysfunction involving the joints and muscles of the low back. These are biomechanical problems that are not efficiently treated with medication (drugs). Biomechanical joint problems account for 80% of low back pain cases and usually worsen with age.
Chiropractic care and its use of specific joint adjustments is the logical and efficient treatment for biomechanical joint problems that are responsible for most cases of low back pain.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
What if I told you that over the last 15 years I have helped countless low back pain sufferers overcome their pain with a fast, natural, drug free therapy? In addition, that therapy is reasonably priced and covered by most insurance companies.
Of course I am writing about safe and effective chiropractic care.
At this point, some of you will be thinking “Chiropractic doesn’t work!” or “I wouldn’t go to one of those guys!”
I have heard all of these arguments in the past. I was even one of those people. I was raised in a semi anti chiropractic household.
My opinions changed after a car accident I was involved in back in 1984. After a mild fender bender, I slowly developed neck pain and stiffness. Before long that pain was “creeping” into my left shoulder and arm. I began to go to my primary physician at Kaiser for treatment. I followed his advice but nothing worked.
Early on in my treatment, I told my Kaiser doctor that my chiropractor uncle told me that I should see a local chiropractor. My Kaiser doctor dismissed that thought with some derogatory remark and told me to stick with his care – which I did.
Kaisers’ treatment was not helpful!
Eventually I saw a chiropractor who had my condition completely turned around in about 3 weeks. Mind you that the chiropractic care followed 5 months of pills and occasional physical therapy from Kaiser – that didn’t work.
My chiropractic treatment was so successful and actually enjoyable that I switched my college studies to pre-med and later attended Chiropractic College.
What does this have to do with low back pain you ask?
Everything.
Chiropractors are known for treating low back pain, it is what my profession is associated with. The reason that we are associated with low back pain treatment is because of my professions’ tremendous success rate with delivering fast, safe, natural, drug free back pain relief.
I recently read a study that indicated that the use of chiropractic care for low back pain relief is nearly 4000 times safer than using medications or other traditional western medicine inspired treatments.
Most cases of low back pain occur as a direct result of injury or dysfunction involving the joints and muscles of the low back. These are biomechanical problems that are not efficiently treated with medication (drugs). Biomechanical joint problems account for 80% of low back pain cases and usually worsen with age.
Chiropractic care and its use of specific joint adjustments is the logical and efficient treatment for biomechanical joint problems that are responsible for most cases of low back pain.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Dec 11, 2009
Have you been to a chiropractor lately?
Have you been to a chiropractor lately?
Have you ever been to a chiropractor?
Regardless of your answer to these questions, do you know what a chiropractor does?
I have been a practicing chiropractor in San Diego for the last 16 years. Helping people with neck pain, back pain, sciatica and headaches with chiropractic care is rewarding. As a profession, chiropractors only provide care to somewhere around 10% of our population. I have always wondered why this number is so low since patient satisfaction with chiropractic treatment is so much higher than it is with traditional medical care and that most independent research indicates that chiropractic care is more effective than western medicine for back pain.
Chiropractic care is an excellent , conservative treatment for many types of back injuries including those caused by auto accidents and various work injuries. That being the case, I have always thought that more people don’t seek out chiropractic care for their back and neck injuries because they don’t know what to expect with a chiropractic visit.
In this post, I am going to tell you exactly what procedures that our new patients go through at the time of their first visit.
Once a new patient comes to our office they are asked to fill out a brief informational health history that covers both past and current problems. After they are done with this form, I review the history to acquaint myself with current and past complaints that are relevant to the reason for the appointment.
With the history form reviewed, I take the patient to one of my exam / treatment rooms where I ask the patient to tell me more about their pain. During this time I also ask additional questions to help me get a good understanding of the patients’ concerns.
After I am satisfied with my understanding of the patients’ concerns and they have nothing else to add to the history, I perform an examination on the involved areas that includes range of motion tests, necessary orthopedic tests and neurological tests. Usually the information that I obtain from these tests is sufficient to allow me to make a decision regarding treatment.
If treatment is indicated, care usually involves therapy to relax the muscles followed by chiropractic adjustments to relieve the pain / dysfunction of the involved joints. Since many of our new patients have never been to a chiropractor before, I always ask the patients to help me keep all of our procedures within their “comfort zone”. I have always thought that this is very important since so many Americans are unfamiliar with manual type therapies.
The number of chiropractic visits varies person to person depending on the severity of the injury and each persons response to care.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PAD Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Have you ever been to a chiropractor?
Regardless of your answer to these questions, do you know what a chiropractor does?
I have been a practicing chiropractor in San Diego for the last 16 years. Helping people with neck pain, back pain, sciatica and headaches with chiropractic care is rewarding. As a profession, chiropractors only provide care to somewhere around 10% of our population. I have always wondered why this number is so low since patient satisfaction with chiropractic treatment is so much higher than it is with traditional medical care and that most independent research indicates that chiropractic care is more effective than western medicine for back pain.
Chiropractic care is an excellent , conservative treatment for many types of back injuries including those caused by auto accidents and various work injuries. That being the case, I have always thought that more people don’t seek out chiropractic care for their back and neck injuries because they don’t know what to expect with a chiropractic visit.
In this post, I am going to tell you exactly what procedures that our new patients go through at the time of their first visit.
Once a new patient comes to our office they are asked to fill out a brief informational health history that covers both past and current problems. After they are done with this form, I review the history to acquaint myself with current and past complaints that are relevant to the reason for the appointment.
With the history form reviewed, I take the patient to one of my exam / treatment rooms where I ask the patient to tell me more about their pain. During this time I also ask additional questions to help me get a good understanding of the patients’ concerns.
After I am satisfied with my understanding of the patients’ concerns and they have nothing else to add to the history, I perform an examination on the involved areas that includes range of motion tests, necessary orthopedic tests and neurological tests. Usually the information that I obtain from these tests is sufficient to allow me to make a decision regarding treatment.
If treatment is indicated, care usually involves therapy to relax the muscles followed by chiropractic adjustments to relieve the pain / dysfunction of the involved joints. Since many of our new patients have never been to a chiropractor before, I always ask the patients to help me keep all of our procedures within their “comfort zone”. I have always thought that this is very important since so many Americans are unfamiliar with manual type therapies.
The number of chiropractic visits varies person to person depending on the severity of the injury and each persons response to care.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PAD Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Dec 7, 2009
Core Strength Back Pain
Being a practicing chiropractor in San Diego for the last 15 plus years has given me the opportunity to manage hundreds of cases of lower back pain. I would say that of these cases of low back pain, at least 75% of them are the result of a sedentary lifestyle and lack of core strength.
Our spines are essentially a stack of bones that give use the ability to flex, bend and twist while at the same time provide protection for our spinal cord. Ligaments, which are tough fibrous bands of tissue help provide stability of the joints. Another major contributor of stability for our spines comes from the muscles. The muscles in our bodies, regardless of where they are located should be strong and flexible. Strong flexible muscles in our core help prevent injuries.
The trend in America is that we are becoming heavier and exercising less. In addition to this trend, or perhaps a contributor to this trend is the fact that so many people have work that revolves around the computer. I know that some of my patients sit at a computer station all day long – every day of the week.
Sitting at a computer has multiple ill effects on the health of our spines. The postural stress of sitting puts stress on the discs that separate our vertebrae. When we sit, the normal forward sweeping curve of our low backs round backward which displaces the weight of our bodies forward putting increased pressure on the discs. This posture also stretches the muscles that run down the back of the spine eventually causing what is known as a “stretch weakness”.
It is the loss of core strength combined with the postural stress of sitting at work for hours and days on end that leads to most of the back problems that I see at work. I always find it ironic that office workers who are in for treatment make comments about how I must see so many heavy laborers for back pain while my office is filled with computer jockeys.
The solutions to the problems described above are simple but require diligence. First of all, you have to take breaks if you sit all day. I had a seminar years ago where one of the speakers gave a simple solution to get you up and moving during the day. He suggested that you have a small, 8 oz glass of water on your desk that you drink from all day. With this plan, every twenty minutes or so you will have to get up to get more water or get up to go to the bathroom. These mini breaks in your day help relieve postural stress.
The second part of taking care of your back involves building strength in your core.
This involves exercise. Walking, jogging, bicycle riding, crunches and various exercises on a Swiss Ball will all go a long way towards building core strength and reducing your chances of lower back injury.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PAD Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Our spines are essentially a stack of bones that give use the ability to flex, bend and twist while at the same time provide protection for our spinal cord. Ligaments, which are tough fibrous bands of tissue help provide stability of the joints. Another major contributor of stability for our spines comes from the muscles. The muscles in our bodies, regardless of where they are located should be strong and flexible. Strong flexible muscles in our core help prevent injuries.
The trend in America is that we are becoming heavier and exercising less. In addition to this trend, or perhaps a contributor to this trend is the fact that so many people have work that revolves around the computer. I know that some of my patients sit at a computer station all day long – every day of the week.
Sitting at a computer has multiple ill effects on the health of our spines. The postural stress of sitting puts stress on the discs that separate our vertebrae. When we sit, the normal forward sweeping curve of our low backs round backward which displaces the weight of our bodies forward putting increased pressure on the discs. This posture also stretches the muscles that run down the back of the spine eventually causing what is known as a “stretch weakness”.
It is the loss of core strength combined with the postural stress of sitting at work for hours and days on end that leads to most of the back problems that I see at work. I always find it ironic that office workers who are in for treatment make comments about how I must see so many heavy laborers for back pain while my office is filled with computer jockeys.
The solutions to the problems described above are simple but require diligence. First of all, you have to take breaks if you sit all day. I had a seminar years ago where one of the speakers gave a simple solution to get you up and moving during the day. He suggested that you have a small, 8 oz glass of water on your desk that you drink from all day. With this plan, every twenty minutes or so you will have to get up to get more water or get up to go to the bathroom. These mini breaks in your day help relieve postural stress.
The second part of taking care of your back involves building strength in your core.
This involves exercise. Walking, jogging, bicycle riding, crunches and various exercises on a Swiss Ball will all go a long way towards building core strength and reducing your chances of lower back injury.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PAD Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Dec 2, 2009
Dangers of Acetaminophen
Dangers of Acetaminophen:
Many Chiropractors are hard core anti-medication. I once had a roommate that I went to Chiropractic College with who was one of these types of practitioners. With his patients his mantra was “anti drug, anti drug, anti drug.” Of course, that didn’t stop him from going out on the weekends and getting plastered – on alcohol – which is a drug of course, and then medicating his hangover with Tylenol the next day.
In my San Diego based Chiropractic Center, I am not quite as negative on the uses of medications as some of my colleagues. I always recommend using caution with taking any type of medication. This recommendation is inclusive of the medications that are bought off the shelf from the local drug store as well.
Each year in the United States, acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) triggers 100,000 calls to poison control centers, 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths from liver failure. Acetaminophen causes more cases of liver failure than all other medications combined. That is a staggering statistic from a “safe” over the counter drug.
The problems of taking acetaminophen with alcohol are well known by most. What is not as well known are the risks of taking acetaminophen while fasting. For some people, fasting occurs secondary to abdominal upset, nausea, vomiting and other causes of lost appetite. It is estimated that liver toxicity due to fasting occurs in 1 in 100,000 people taking acetaminophen. Apparently, the toxic condition does occur in people who have taken the recommended doses or less. We tend to believe that OTC medications are safe if taken as recommended on the package – this is not always the case.
The bottom line is that you always have to be careful with medications. Medications change the physiology in your body, which should be concerning to everyone.
Like I stated in the beginning of this article, I do believe that medications have their place and can be taken safely. However, I am always miffed when I hear one of my patients tell me that their friend or spouse is afraid to be adjusted by a chiropractor yet they take medication on a regular basis. Chiropractic adjustments, after all, are very safe and conservative as far as clinical treatments go.
The bottom line is that we always have to weigh the risks of everything we do, especially with our health. Knowledge of all the possible risks of taking any medication is easily found on the internet. I believe it is better to know beforehand and have the chance to make a wise decision rather than to wish you had known after the damage is done.
Take Care
Doc
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Many Chiropractors are hard core anti-medication. I once had a roommate that I went to Chiropractic College with who was one of these types of practitioners. With his patients his mantra was “anti drug, anti drug, anti drug.” Of course, that didn’t stop him from going out on the weekends and getting plastered – on alcohol – which is a drug of course, and then medicating his hangover with Tylenol the next day.
In my San Diego based Chiropractic Center, I am not quite as negative on the uses of medications as some of my colleagues. I always recommend using caution with taking any type of medication. This recommendation is inclusive of the medications that are bought off the shelf from the local drug store as well.
Each year in the United States, acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) triggers 100,000 calls to poison control centers, 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths from liver failure. Acetaminophen causes more cases of liver failure than all other medications combined. That is a staggering statistic from a “safe” over the counter drug.
The problems of taking acetaminophen with alcohol are well known by most. What is not as well known are the risks of taking acetaminophen while fasting. For some people, fasting occurs secondary to abdominal upset, nausea, vomiting and other causes of lost appetite. It is estimated that liver toxicity due to fasting occurs in 1 in 100,000 people taking acetaminophen. Apparently, the toxic condition does occur in people who have taken the recommended doses or less. We tend to believe that OTC medications are safe if taken as recommended on the package – this is not always the case.
The bottom line is that you always have to be careful with medications. Medications change the physiology in your body, which should be concerning to everyone.
Like I stated in the beginning of this article, I do believe that medications have their place and can be taken safely. However, I am always miffed when I hear one of my patients tell me that their friend or spouse is afraid to be adjusted by a chiropractor yet they take medication on a regular basis. Chiropractic adjustments, after all, are very safe and conservative as far as clinical treatments go.
The bottom line is that we always have to weigh the risks of everything we do, especially with our health. Knowledge of all the possible risks of taking any medication is easily found on the internet. I believe it is better to know beforehand and have the chance to make a wise decision rather than to wish you had known after the damage is done.
Take Care
Doc
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
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